Sash-balance



(No Model.)

S. H. RADFORD.

, SASH BALANCE. I No. 358,070. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

UNITED Srarns PATENT OFFICE. A

SAMUEL H. PADFORD, OF HARTSELLS, ALABAMA.

' SASi-i-BALANCE.

$IECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,070, dated February 22, 1887.

Application filed July "29, 1886. Serial No.209,45l. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL II. RADFORD, a citizen oftheUnited States, residing at Hartsells, in the county of Morgan and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sash-Balances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in sash-balances; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a sash-balancing device embodying my improvements attached to a window. Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detailed transverse section taken on the line 00 x of Fig. 2.

A represents the window-frame, and B rep resents the window-sash. The sash-balancing device consists of a plate, 0, which is made of metal Lor other preferred material and is provided on its face, near its opposite ends, with projecting lugs D and D. The lug D is very much broader than the lug D, and is hollowed and provided with a removable cap,-I*l.

F represents a horizontal spindle, which is journaled in the lugs D and D and is provided between the said lugs with a drum, G. On that end of the spindle which is located in the lug D is coiled a volute Spring, H, one end of which is attached to the said spindle and the other end of which is attached to the inner side of the opening or recess in the lug.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that by rotating the drum or spindle in one direction the spring will be coiled or wound up.

I represents an elevating-cord, which is at tached to the drum G and iswound thereon in the direction opposite the spring H.

K represents a sash holder or detent, which is attached to the sash and is adapted to bear against or engage the window-frame at any point, so as to maintain the sash in an elevated position. This sash-holder or detent is not herein more particularly described, for the reason. that it may be of any well-known preferred construction.

The operation of my invention is follows: The plate 0 is screwed to the upper side of the window-frame, and the elevating-cord I is attached to the upper side of the sash. Vhen the sash is lowered, the cord is unwound from the drum and the spring H is wound up to its fullest extent. The said spring is capable of exerting a pressure sufficient to raise the windowsash, and in order to elevate the sash it is only necessary to disengage the detent or sash-holder from the window-frame, when the spring will instantly rotate the spindle and drum, so as to wind up the elevating-cord and raise the sash. \Vhen the sash is raised to the poi ntdesired,the detent or saslrholder is again caused to engage the window-frame, and thus lock the sash thereto. In order to lower the sash, the detent or sash-holder is first disengaged, and then the person lowering the sash bears down upon the windowsash with sufficient strength to overcome the resistance of the spring and cause the same to be rewound and the elevating cord uncoiled from the drum and the sash lowered.

This device is adapted to be used in connection with either the upper or lower sash in the window-frame. It is very cheap and simple, and will be found extremely convenient and thoroughly efficient and practical in operation.

I am aware of Patent No. 325,152 for sashbalances, which employs a face-plate that is affixed rigidly to the frame and has a pair of vertical lugs, between which are arranged a rotary drum, the shaft of which. is journaled in the said lugs. One of the vertical faces of the rotary drum has arecess or chamber formed therein, in whichis located a coiled spring, which actuates the drum to balance the sash and assist in elevating the latter. My invention differs from this device in that I provide the lugs D of the base-plate with a recess or chamber in its outer exposed face and extend the spindle or shaft of the drum into and through the said chamber. A volute spring is coiled and housed within the chamber and connected at one end to the spindle, and the spring is concealed from View by a cap, E, which is removably secured to the lug D, so that it can be detached therefrom to permit free access to the chamber and thevolute spring therein, whereby the tension of the spring can be very easily and readily increased, when it becomes weakened, without disturbing or removing the drum and spindle from the bearing-lugs, or the spring can be removed and a new one substituted therefor when it is worn out.

The important advantage gained by my peculiar arrangement and construction of parts is that ready access can be had to the volute spring to increase the tension thereof or replace it with a new spring without disturbing the drum and its spindle,whereasifthe spring is housed in a chamber in the rotary drum itself, and the latter is arranged between suitable bearing-lugs of a face-plate, as in the patent hereinbefore referred to, it is necessary to first remove the spindle and then displace the drum from between the bearing-lugs in order to have free access to the spring to tighten it an operation which is attended with considerable labor and requires patience and skill.

Having thus described my invention, I claim As an improvement in sash-balances, the combination of a baseplate, (J, rigidly affixed to the window-frame and having the integral bearing-lugs D D projecting outwardly therefrom, one of the said lugs, D having a recess or chamber formed in its outer exposed face, a spindle journaled in the said bearing-lugs and having one end thereof extended through the chamber or recess of the lugs D, a spool affixed to and carried by the spindle and ar ranged between the bearing-lugs, a volute spring coiled upon and connected at one end to the spindle and housed or inclosed within the recess of the lug D, a cap, E, bearing against and removably secured to the outer face of the lug D to conceal the chamber and the volute spring fromview, and an elevatingeord connected to the window-sash and wound upon the drum in reverse direction to the volute spring on the spindle, all arranged and combined substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. RADFORD.

W'itnesses:

J AMES H. CORSBIE, JOHN V. BRITNELL. 

